Hawks squeak by Nets By SEKOU SMITH The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published on: 02/28/06 Nobody said it was going to be easy, witnessing the Hawks' growing pains firsthand. But for all those agonizing nights when the ball bounces the other way and the Hawks just don't have the energy or wherewithal to finish what they started, there are nights like these. Nights like Monday, when the Hawks survived the New Jersey Nets 104-102 in overtime at Philips Arena for their second overtime win in their last three games. Nights when second-year forward Josh Smith sends the game into overtime with an 18-footer and then gives the Hawks a four-point lead with a 16-footer with 33.9 seconds to play in overtime. Nights when Josh Childress, another second-year forward not noted for his outside shooting touch, drills a clutch 3-pointer with 2:44 to play in overtime to give the Hawks the lead for good. Nights when Al Harrington stops Vince Carter cold twice when the Nets' All-Star forward has a chance to win the game. He missed jumpers at the end of regulation and at the end of overtime. It's all proof that the usually agonizing process of rebuilding an NBA team has its bright spots, particularly when players who wouldn't have even had a chance to make game-changing and game-winning shots two months ago are now front and center. "It's time to grow up man. We've all got to grow up around here," said Hawks guard Joe Johnson, who was on the giving end of the last two of the aforementioned shots (Harrington hit Smith with the pass for the shot that tied the game in regulation) and finished the night with 19 points and 11 assists. "If any of those guys are open and I'm getting doubled, I'm definitely going to pass them the ball. I believe in them. They just have to believe in themselves." The Joshes are true believers these days. They believe in more than just themselves, though. They believe in their teammates and the process as well, after their dismal 2-16 start to the season the Hawks are now 18-37. "[Hawks] Coach [Mike Woodson] is putting a lot of confidence in me and Chil and that's what we needed all along," said Smith, who finished with 19 points, nine rebounds, five assists and four blocks. "He's letting us play and letting us play our game and we're reaping the benefits of playing our game." Childress said the difference between Monday and two months ago was that both he and Smith were ready when the ball swung their way with the game on the line. "Josh was ready for that pass," Childress said, "I was ready for the pass that came my way. It's totally different when you're ready." Childress wasn't quite as impressed as others with his night's work - he finished with 10 points, five rebounds, two assists and a blocked shot in 43 minutes off the bench. "I only made one 3 (-pointer)," he said. It was when he made it that mattered. "We all believe in each other," Harrington said after finishing with a team-high 22 points and eight rebounds while also serving as the defensive stopper on Carter, who along with Richard Jefferson tied Harrington for game-high scoring honors. "I know how hard these guys have been working so we can have nights like these. We've all been working together lately and that's the way you want it to be." NEXT FOR HAWKS ‧ Opponent: Raptors ‧ When; where: 7 p.m. Wednesday; Air Canada Centre, Toronto ‧ Radio: 790 AM 资料来源 http://www.ajc.com/hawks/content/sports/hawks/stories/0228hawks.html --

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